Race coverage goes mobile in historic first for Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

• NEWS
• 21 Dec, 2009 11:26:00 AM

Race coverage goes mobile in historic first for Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race

Get the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Updates on your mobile

Millions of yachting enthusiasts across Australia and New Zealand will this year have instant mobile access to the most comprehensive race result service in the history of the world renowned Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Organisers of the 65th edition of the blue water classic, Sydney’s Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), has commissioned IT firm BlueCentral to provide, for the first time, mobile phone updates as the fleet battles its way down the coast to Hobart

“In addition to the official race website www.rolexsydneyhobart.com we have introduced the SMS service to mobile users, because it’s not always possible to have access to a computer,” said the CYCA’s CEO, Mark Woolf.  “This year followers will be able to share in the excitement of the race wherever they may be.”

The mobile alert service is currently registering mobile users wanting to receive SMS updates from four hours after the start of the Rolex Sydney Hobart on Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December up until the overall winner is determined.

Subscribers pay an up-front fee to receive text messages and can customise the frequency of these updates from hourly to every four hours; also electing which division they wish to follow.

Subscription to the SMS service costs $1.10 (incl. GST) and 55 cents a message. To subscribe to the SMS Alerts, text ‘RACE’ to 199RSHYR (19977497) or log onto www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. (Rates for NZ subscribers differ – please refer to the terms and conditions for further information)

“We are offering the opportunity for a wider public audience to keep up to date with the progressive standings in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, via SMS alerts and for the first time through Twitter,” said Woolf.

Fans of social networking sites can also receive race updates and follow the race via http://twitter.com/rshyr

IT firm BlueCentral will for the next three years host the CYCA’s club website www.cyca.com.au as well as its race specific sites focusing on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, the Audi Sydney Offshore Newcastle Yacht Race and the Audi Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race.

“We have had a lot of experience with organisations like the CYCA that want to reach people not only online but through their mobile phones while they are on the move,” said BlueCentral’s managing director, Anthony Banek. “The Club can be assured that its messages are being delivered with the help of a company with credibility and expertise in this area.“

“The winners this year will be the viewing public who are able to get closer to all of the action of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart than ever before,” Woolf added